Friday, January 22, 2010

All Nutcracker-ed Out!

While I wish I could take credit for this post title, it is actually the headline of a newspaper article/commentary that my mom shared with me.

Apparently, I’m not the first mother to question her sanity after encouraging her preschooler to audition for the Nutcracker! Sometimes, as mothers, we cause our own stressors in life! LOL

Mary as one of Mother Ginger’s Children in The Nutcracker 2009

Anyway, as I shared back in the fall, Mary’s dance studio puts on The Nutcracker every other year and Christmas 2009 was the year of The Nutcracker. Not knowing what I was in for, I eagerly encouraged Mary Catherine to audition. She made it (as did all the little ones, I think) and weekend practices began in October.

For approximately two-hours every Saturday and Sunday October through November, I dutifully sat in my car reading or did some grocery/Christmas shopping while Mary rehearsed with her fellow mouse companions and Mother Ginger children.

The actual performance was on Saturday, Dec. 5th. Friday, Dec. 4th was a long night for the little ones with stage rehearsal lasting from 6 PM until 10 PM…Mary’s usually in bed by 8:30!!! Saturday found us at the high school auditorium by 12:00 noon and we were there for the duration. With dress/costume rehearsal, individual and group photos, and multiple revisions, etc. we never left the high school. Fortunately, a seasoned “show mom” gave me the heads up and I packed the Disney Princess backpack with snacks, drinks, and card/board games.

Can you spot Mary…she’s in the middle of the line, right in front of one of the rats!

All these little girls were hidden inside Mother Ginger’s dress. It was so cute to see them all come tumbling out when Mother Ginger clapped her hands!

The show was at 6 PM and lasted about 2 hours. NEVER ONCE did Mary Catherine whine, complain, cry, etc. She was a total trooper and loved being on stage! All in all, The Nutcracker was a great experience for her and while she has expressed disappointment that there will be no Nutcracker in 2010, Mama is breathing a big sigh of relief! Ha!!!

My little ballerina watching the “big girls” perform one of the other numbers during Act 1.

Mary and Mommy after the production. Daddy bought Mary flowers.

And that’s it! While I have about 300+ other photos from the show, I refuse to bore you with pictures of the other ballerinas (although they were quite magnificent and very professional)!

AND, be sure to come back for a visit tomorrow when I make one last CHRISTMAS post that is sure to be a big ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

I just love your little Mary in those pictures. Her smiling face is the best! Just made me smile right back at my computer. She looks like she probably is a really funny kid. Does she make you guys laugh allot?

I can't wait to hear your announcment..... Are you???? I won't say it but I want to so bad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1 Thessalonians 4: 11-12

"MAKE IT YOUR AMBITION TO LEAD A QUIET LIFE, TO MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS AND TO WORK WITH YOUR HANDS, JUST AS WE TOLD YOU, SO THAT YOUR DAILY LIFE MAY WIN THE RESPECT OF OUTSIDERS AND SO THAT YOU WILL NOT BE DEPENDENT ON ANYBODY."

About Me

Welcome! I'm glad you're here. My name is Valerie. I am a 40-something Catholic mom to three precious kiddos (Mary, Ben, and Luke) and classroom teacher to 23 adorable 3rd and 4th Graders at St. Paul Catholic School. I just completed my first year of full-time employment after taking a 5-year break from teaching. I love my early-morning quiet times with the Lord, sneaking into the Adoration chapel after 3:15 dismissal and incorporating Catholicism into reading, math, science and social studies. I enjoy hot tea, a strong cup of coffee and the occasional glass of red wine! It could be said that I am gently old-fashioned…lover of children's classic literature, wrap-around porches, and handmade quilts. I prefer sundresses to shorts. I love making my house a home to honor the Lord. I am abundantly blessed.